The Message

Psalm 55

A David Psalm

11-3 Open your ears, God, to my prayer;don’t pretend you don’t hear me knocking.Come close and whisper your answer.I really need you.I shudder at the mean voice,quail before the evil eye,As they pile on the guilt,stockpile angry slander.

4-8 My insides are turned inside out;specters of death have me down.I shake with fear,I shudder from head to foot.“Who will give me wings,” I ask—“wings like a dove?”Get me out of here on dove wings;I want some peace and quiet.I want a walk in the country,I want a cabin in the woods.I’m desperate for a changefrom rage and stormy weather.

9-11 Come down hard, Lord—slit their tongues.I’m appalled how they’ve split the cityInto rival gangsprowling the alleysDay and night spoiling for a fight,trash piled in the streets,Even shopkeepers gouging and cheatingin broad daylight.

12-14 This isn’t the neighborhood bullymocking me—I could take that.This isn’t a foreign devil spittinginvective—I could tune that out.It’s you! We grew up together!You! My best friend!Those long hours of leisure as we walkedarm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.

15 Haul my betrayers off alive to hell—let themexperience the horror, let themfeel every desolate detail of a damned life.

16-19 I call to God;God will help me.At dusk, dawn, and noon I sighdeep sighs—he hears, he rescues.My life is well and whole, securein the middle of dangerEven while thousandsare lined up against me.God hears it all, and from his judge’s benchputs them in their place.But, set in their ways, they won’t change;they pay him no mind.

20-21 And this, my best friend, betrayed his best friends;his life betrayed his word.All my life I’ve been charmed by his speech,never dreaming he’d turn on me.His words, which were music to my ears,turned to daggers in my heart.

22-23 Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out.He’ll never let good peopletopple into ruin.But you, God, will throw the othersinto a muddy bog,Cut the lifespan of assassinsand traitors in half.

New International Version

Psalm 55

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David.

1 Listen to my prayer, O God,do not ignore my plea;2 hear me and answer me.My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught3 because of what my enemy is saying,because of the threats of the wicked;for they bring down suffering on meand assail me in their anger.

4 My heart is in anguish within me;the terrors of death have fallen on me.5 Fear and trembling have beset me;horror has overwhelmed me.6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!I would fly away and be at rest.7 I would flee far awayand stay in the desert;[c]8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,far from the tempest and storm.”

9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,for I see violence and strife in the city.10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls;malice and abuse are within it.11 Destructive forces are at work in the city;threats and lies never leave its streets.

12 If an enemy were insulting me,I could endure it;if a foe were rising against me,I could hide.13 But it is you, a man like myself,my companion, my close friend,14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowshipat the house of God,as we walked aboutamong the worshipers.

15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,for evil finds lodging among them.

16 As for me, I call to God,and the Lord saves me.17 Evening, morning and noonI cry out in distress,and he hears my voice.18 He rescues me unharmedfrom the battle waged against me,even though many oppose me.19 God, who is enthroned from of old,who does not change—he will hear them and humble them,because they have no fear of God.

20 My companion attacks his friends;he violates his covenant.21 His talk is smooth as butter,yet war is in his heart;his words are more soothing than oil,yet they are drawn swords.

22 Cast your cares on the Lordand he will sustain you;he will never letthe righteous be shaken.23 But you, God, will bring down the wickedinto the pit of decay;the bloodthirsty and deceitfulwill not live out half their days.